Children Quote by Patti Smith
“In the '50s you had to wear pink ribbons if you were a girl, and you were supposed to become a hairdresser or a secretary. I couldn't stomach it. Later on, when I fell in love with my husband and had children, that's when my mother's earthiness or sense of femaleness kicked in.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2020, Rolling Stone, Patti Smith on gender expectations
Reflects on mid‑20th‑century gender norms forcing women into limited roles, and how personal life awakened a deeper sense of femininity
In simple terms: Women were pushed into narrow jobs; later life revealed richer femininity
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge restrictive gender expectations
Themes
gender roles
identity
feminism
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
personal
cultural
When to use this quote
- career planning
- parenting
- personal growth
- activism
Key Concepts
social conditioning
self‑discovery
Questions to Reflect On
- How did your career choices reflect societal pressure?
- What does “earthiness” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
May overlook intersectionality of class and race
![“Sometimes [people] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c73/patti-smith-394_cursing_sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-ou_28268.jpg)
